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Taking Credit Cards at Craft Shows
By Natalie Goyette
If you are crafting for a living you are going to want to make
as much money as possible. It¡¯s nice to be in it just for the
love of the craft, but, if you are going to craft shows to sell
your items, then chances are you are going to want to profit
from your venture.
One of the best ways to boost your craft show sales is to offer
credit as payment. Visa, American Express and MasterCard (and
others) are becoming the transaction of choice when people are
making snap decision on purchases. Plus, there are quite a few
benefits for people using credit cards, like air miles and other
reward programs, along with purchase protection.
Crafters have reported in various surveys that have credit card
capability has increased their sales by as much as 35%.
Accepting credit card payments is almost a necessity today as
fewer people walk around with a lot of cash in their pockets and
taking checks incurs greater risk. Taking credit cards allows
you to expand your business to mail order, phone orders and the
Internet as well as your craft show sales. Credit cards allow
consumers to make more spontaneous purchases, which is often the
case at craft shows.
Today, there are more options for those who have mobile
businesses: they can have a wireless debit / credit card
machines, the standard debit / credit card machines, and you
always have the old style chargex machine with the carbon copy
transaction. Any of them will work, however, with the
electronic systems, you can set your business up to take any
credit card. If you have the chargex carbon, then you may only
be able to accept one of those cards.
Even though there are set up fees and monthly fees, the benefits
far outweigh the costs. To get started, check your current bank
or call a craft guild or association to check the many options,
comparing costs and services for merchant accounts. Some
warehouse companies like Costco, offer its members excellent
credit card services at reasonable prices. Create a comparison
chart of the best two or three offers and get some referrals
from people who are using the services of the companies you're
considering. Lastly, before making your decision, ensure there
is an available contact person you can call when you have any
problems or questions.
Credit cards are a great way for you to offer payment
flexibility to your customers. There is less cash in the
average consumer¡¯s pocket, and more plastic than ever before.
So, if you want to sell more of your crafts, maybe you should
think of offering a credit card payment option to your customers.
About the Author
Natalie Goyette is the best selling author of Craft Show Success. Her e-book shows you how you can finally make money at craft shows. http://www.craftshowsuccess.com
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/18531.html
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